Front porch –
a balcony view –
retirement’s play.
Novel – this place –
silence stretches,
pauses briefly –
a car creeps by,
or a dog barks –
my heart beats…
inside – commotion –
pounding hammers,
swoosh of legs in motion –
not mine – body bankrupt –
mind impoverished –
no – not that – just struggling.
empty boxes pile up,
others – contents lingering,
unresolved – call my name,
but the front porch
makes promises –
there is time…
(I am a day late for dVerse, but intrigued by the challenge, decided to join in anyway. Today’s prompts are: commotion (Fandango), novel (Ragtag Community), poverty (Daily Addictions). Photo is front porch view – our first sunset.)
I am in the throes of unpacking from retirement. Well done!!!! I have felt the many parts of this poem.. Thanks for participating.
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Lovely photo of sunset. How blessed to have a sunset view from your front porch. Do you have a sunrise view from your back porch, too? Isn’t it great to just be still and savor a sunset? This is an inspirational post, V.J.
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Thanks LuAnne. I haven’t made it to the back deck yet, lol. But it would make sense that I will catch the sunrise there.
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You did a good job of sending the English teacher on her way. (I should know… it’s what I do for a living.) The rattling experience of moving deserves more reward than just a sunset… even a beautiful one. Hummingbirds, ice cream, someone else to do the unpacking…. Your poem catches just the right tone and pacing.
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Thank you Charley. Sadly, my English teacher self has had to take a back seat as I now battle cognitive dysfunction – and boy is it a fight some days.
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It makes for poetry, however! You are being held in the light, as the Quakers say.
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Oh, I like that!
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Sometimes silence and serenity stabs us with haunting memories of bygone years !
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It does for certain. I was bed bound for over two years, unable to tolerate noise, light, etc. Prior to illness, I lived a hurried, very active life. The abrupt stop bombarded me with “haunting memories”. I am learning to love the silences now though.
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this is awesome! a really heart felt touching poem. xxx
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Thank you. So glad you liked it.
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Your poem really spoke to me. Like you I am in throes of moving into a smaller place that will suit my retirement. I like your thoughts of the promises of the front porch. I move over the next couple of weeks but already I’m imagining looking out of my little eating area into the quiet, secluded garden.
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That sounds so nice, Suzanne. A smaller space means less time spent on housework, and more time for pondering, or whatever. Good luck with the move and take care of yourself in the process.
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Looks like home to me.
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Thanks Bekkie.
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I love the mixed feelings in this poem…. resettleing… not being able to help… boxes calling … and especially the call of the front porch. the punctuation makes it really work.
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Thanks. I am a bit a of a punctuation freak – former English teacher, lol.
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Nothing wrong with that!! Does poetry give you a fit??
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Sometimes the teacher in me comes out, but I slap her wrist and send her away, lol.
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Ha Ha!
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The dashes are like pauses in the writer’s stream of consciousness–like noticing something new. It’s nice to have a front porch to sit and watch the sunset.
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Thank you. It is very nice.
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The dashes chop this up into small thoughts. I’m imagining you’re still noticing lots of new things.
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All moved in?
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Somehow I imagine a suburbia silence when all is silent and you are there by yourself.
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“silence stretches, pauses briefly”…lovely description. Wonderful sunset!
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Thank you. It is so quiet here – and I felt honoured at such a lovely sunset.
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I like how the front porch makes promises with time.
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Thanks Frank – I am appreciative of that, also lol.
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